UN Why Hast Thou Forsaken Tibet?

Today another turn in the history of global politics happened as the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade and recognize the Palestinian Authority as a State and further granting it a non-member observer status. I could feel the joy in the hearts of many Palestinians, who for several decades have been struggling for recognition and for independence. Though total independence is yet to be achieved today’s event is a good reward for the spilled blood both of their fighters and citizens killed during the battles.

The Palestinian-Israeli case is a favorite topic in the United Nations, almost every now and then the topic is being discussed in the General Assembly, Security Council, UN human Rights Council, the ECOSOC and so with the other UN committees. Same is true with the other cases in the Middle East. As the Arab Spring explodes the United Nations was prompt in responding.

So there it goes, the UN can act accordingly when it so desires. What then is the difference of the TIBET ISSUE? Why is it that the United Nations kept its eyes and ears closed to the issue? Why are they not so interested in sending observers? Why is it seems that the Tibetan case is a taboo in the UN? Isn’t the spilled blood of the Tibetans enough to call for the UN’s attention? Isn’t the destruction of the Tibetan environment/ecology enough? Isn’t the rampant human rights violation enough?

If the United Nations in the recent events was so willing to recognize Timor Leste, Kosovo, the new African States, and now Palestine, why are they so reluctant to recognize the basic human rights of the Tibetan people and their right to administer Tibet or their right to political and cultural self determination.

The unsolved case of Tibet is the first failure of the United Nations. While the UN has enshrined in its charter the importance of carrying out the decolonization process, China was on its way to colonize Tibet. And so, when most of the former colonies gained their freedom and independence, Tibet lost it. What then the UN did during those times? Nothing!

It is high time for the UN to look into the case of Tibet with scrutinizing eyes. It is time for the International Courts to pound in the gavel of Justice if it has to prove that indeed they so treasure the Fundamental Rights of Man. The case of Tibet is the best proof that UN is much more than just a body politic, or just a market place for unscrupulous world leaders who are good in reciting the spirit and wisdom enshrined in democracy and the importance of human rights but none the less are interested only in concretizing their political regimes with the aid of this intergovernmental body. Make UN more than just a place for orators, whose good orations are not intended for anything more than literary works.

Let the spirit and the letters of the UN charter come into life. For even how good it was written if they were not observed, such is no more than a piece of paper, for words are no more than words. As in the words of Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce Tribe:

Good words do not last long unless they amount to something. Words do not pay for my dead people. They do not pay for my country, now overrun by white men (Chinese). They do not protect my father’s grave. They do not pay for all my horses and cattle. Good words will not give back my children. Good words will not make good the promise of your War Chief. Good words will not give my people good health and stop them from dying. Good words will not get my people a home where they can live in peace and take care of themselves.

UN save more trees [the world] by writing no more resolutions about Tibet, but instead resolve it through actions beyond the voluminous pages of papers.

References:

http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Wisdom/ChiefJoseph.html

http://www.boston.com/news/world/united-nations/2012/11/30/vote-recognizes-state-palestine-objects/wNr5j92INrxebXB9vDpkiL/story.html

International Tibet Support Group Meeting

Last November 16 to 18, hundreds of individuals from different countries gathered at the Tibetan Children's Village for 3 days to discuss the current situation and developments in Tibet and to renew their commitment and support for the Tibetan cause. Some of the groups and individuals have been there for several years giving support to the Tibetan struggle while others are newbies. Nevertheless, regardless whether they were rookies or veterans everyone has the burning passion to stand for the liberation of Tibet from the chains of oppression. 

The United Nations may have been deaf and silent about the situation in Tibet but not the people from the grassroots. The hundreds of people who made it to Dharamsala are just among the thousands of people, continously increasing, who made their decision never to join in the united silence of their governments.

The participants in the International Tibet Support Group Meeting is diverse. They are people from different culture, who speak different language. But regardless of such diversity everyone was united for one cause-The Tibetan Cause. They Speak one language-free Tibet and respect their fundamental rights. They have one culture-The culture of cooperation and unity for the liberation of Tibet from the bondage of tyranny and oppression.

The visit of his Holiness the Da Lai Lama during the meeting further inspired the participants. His presence and good spirit, his cheerfulness amidst the various challenges spilled over to recharge the tired participants. His wisdom reminded everyone never to deviate from the spirit of non-violent resistance. 

With the growing global support and the newly established government of Tibet, the Central Tibetan Administration headed by His Excellency, Sikyong Lobsang Sangay, everyone is hopeful that sooner,victory for Tibet will be won. 

Four self immolation in Tibet in 2 days

By Phuntsok Yangchen

DHARAMSHALA, October 27: Four Tibetans have immolated themselves in just two days in three different regions of Tibet. Since 2009, 62 Tibetans have set themselves on fire demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Tibet and Freedom in Tibet.

Read more here: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32335&article=Four+self+immolation+in+Tibet+in+2+days

Urgent demand made for Contact Group on Tibet

“Tibetans have been challenging China’s occupation of Tibet for more than 60 years, and the self-immolations clearly show the urgent need for an end to Chinese rule," said Tenzin Jigme of the International Tibet Network. "We demand that our governments stand together for the people of Tibet by urgently establishing a multi-lateral Contact Group and collectively holding Beijing accountable for its atrocities in Tibet."

Read more here: http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=32345&article=Urgent+demand+made+for+Contact+Group+on+Tibet

“Tibet is dying of our silence,” says French MP

DHARAMSHALA: A French Parliamentarian has expressed his concern over the lack of reaction from the world governments to the tragic self-immolations in Tibet and urged the general public to apply pressure on the Chinese government to solve the problem of Tibet.

Mr Lionnel LUCA, the President of Tibet Group in French National Assembly, during the Tibetan National Uprising Day in Paris on 10 March 2012

Mr Lionnel Luca, the President of Tibet Group in French National Assembly, in a statement on 29 October said: “62 Tibetans have set themselves on fire since 2009, including 7 self-immolations in last week alone. Total indifference is triggering a succession of self-immolations of Tibetans to protest against the repression of the Chinese government against freedom of religion and culture of the Tibetan people, guaranteed by the constitution.”  
  
“No government seems willing to react; thus, it is up to the people to do so by boycotting all Chinese goods, which will be the only means to exert pressure on a government that tramples International law,” Mr Luca said.  
 
Mr Luca, a vocal supporter of Tibet  and the Tibetan people, last year told foreign minister Mr Alan Juppe that France cannot remain indifferent to the situation in Tibet during the height of China’s crackdown on Kirti Monastery, where most of the self-immolations took place. He also sent a letter to Chinese Ambassador Kong Quan asking him about the condition of over 300 monks detained from the Kirti monastery during a raid.   

In 2005, Mr Luca visited Dharamsala by leading a 13-member French parliamentary delegation comprising of France’s three major political parties as part of their observing that year as the Year of Tibet in France. He said that the members of his delegation were very impressed by the systematic functioning of the exile Tibetan administration with all the requirements and characteristics of a democracy. He assured the Tibetan people that China would have to succumb to the non-violent efforts for negotiation by the exile administration.

Source: http://tibet.net